Lucknow: A non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) general secretary Swamy Prasad Maurya for not appearing before a court in regard with an ongoing case.

Maurya, the opposition leader in the state Assembly, had to appear before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate`s (ACJM) court in a case regarding a speech in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks about Hindu gods.

ACJM Kirti Kunal has issued the warrant against Maurya as he failed to appear before the court on Tuesday. The judge has fixed January 16, 2016, as the next date of hearing.

Lawyer Anil Tiwari had filed a case against the BSP leader alleging that during Karpuri Thakur Bhagidaari Sammelan in Lucknow on September 21, 2014, he had made some derogatory references about Hindu deities.